Matchday welcome: Rapids host San Jose

Welcome to today’s match here at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park! We’re delighted to welcome the team back home after a pair of great wins on the road in Canada, first beating Vancouver two weeks ago followed by taking down Toronto last weekend. Our 3-1-1 start this season has been great – it’s tied for the best start we’ve ever had through five games – and we’re hoping the good form continues today here at home in Colorado.

There’s a lot to look forward to on the field today. In last week’s 1-0 win at Toronto FC, Edson Buddle scored the 99th regular season goal in his MLS career, and we’re all hoping to be able to celebrate the fantastic achievement of him becoming just the eighth player to score 100 MLS goals. Good luck, Edson! We may also have the opportunity to see Homegrown Player Dillon Serna make his home debut. All three of his career matches have been on the road, including last week’s substitute appearance, when he assisted on Edson’s strike. We hope you’ll all join us in giving the Brighton native a big ovation if he steps out onto the field.

Congratulations are also due to our leading scorer Vicente Sánchez and his wife Paula, who are celebrating the arrival of their first child, a daughter named Mía Valentina, who was born on Wednesday. We’re thrilled to welcome the newest addition to the Rapids family!

I would also like to welcome Wyatt Oerman out to today’s game, and thank all of you from the Greenwood Athletic and Tennis Club who bought tickets as part of the fundraiser to help pay for Wyatt’s medical bills after a recent accident. Our club has been honored to help raise money for a dear friend in our community, and it’s wonderful that we get to see Wyatt and his family here today.

Thank you again for all your support of the Rapids, even when the team is on the road: our television ratings on Altitude continue to climb, and more of you are listening to the Rapids Podcast on our website every week. For those looking to come back to our next home match on May 3, I want to remind you of Odell Brewing Company’s special “Are you in for 90?” Lads Night Out, which costs just $25 and includes a ticket in the south stands, a beer (or other drink), and a hat.

As always, if there is anything we can do to help improve your experience here at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, please speak with our Customer Service staff, or get in touch with me directly on Twitter, @tkhinchey3. Enjoy the game, and come on you Rapids!